Anger. A Few Thoughts on “Righteous Anger.” Righteous Anger Reacts Against Actual Sin.

Anger. A Few Thoughts on “Righteous Anger.” Righteous Anger Reacts Against Actual Sin.

John Dugas
10/29/2007

What Is "Righteous Anger?"

In a discussion of this topic at Sunday lunch, we considered what righteous anger would look like. I made reference to a book that I've found helpful in this area. It is written by Robert D. Jones, entitled, "Uprooting Anger". He has 3 points that determine if our anger is righteous. The following is an extended quotation from pp. 29-30.

1. Righteous Anger Reacts Against Actual Sin. Righteous anger arises from an accurate perception of true evil, from sin as defined biblically, i.e., as a violation of God's Word (Rom. 3:23; 1 John 3:4), any "want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God." Righteous anger does not result from merely being inconvenienced or from violations of personal preference or human tradition. It responds to sin as objectively defined by God's Word, including violations of both of our Lord's great commandments
(Matt. 22:26-40).

2. Righteous Anger Focuses on God and His Kingdom, Rights, and Concerns, Not on Me and My Kingdom, Rights, and Concerns. In Scripture, God-centered motives, not self-centered motives, drive righteous anger. Righteous anger focuses on how people offend God and his name, not me and my name. It terminates on God more than me. In other words, accurately viewing something as offensive
is not enough. We must view it primarily as offending God.

Righteous anger throbs with kingdom concerns.

3. Righteous Anger Is Accompanied by Other Godly Qualities and Expresses Itself in Godly Ways. Righteous anger remains self-controlled. It keeps its head without cursing, screaming, raging, or flying off the handle. Nor does it spiral downward in self-pity or despair. It does not ignore people, snub people, or withdraw from people. Instead, righeous anger carries with it the twin qualities of confidence and self-control. Christlike anger is not all-consuming and myopic but channeled to sober, earnest ends. Godly strains of mourning, comfort, joy, praise, and action balance it.